WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Red Sea Needlefish

Tylosurus choram

Also known as: Alligator Gar, Crocodile Longtom, Full Beak, Gar, Garfish, Giant Longtom, Hound Needlefish, Houndfish, Longtom, Ocean Piper, Red Sea Houndfish, Ruppell's Alligator Gar, Seagars

Adult
@mkh244 · Nabq , Sharm Elshiekh, Egypt · November 20121 / 3
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, near the surface, over sand and reef areas close to shore.
Western Indian Ocean, Eastern Mediterranean - Red Sea to Gulf of Oman

Needlefish hunt smaller fish just below the surface of the sea, but in turn the are also hunted by larger fish like Tuna and can sometimes be seen leaping into the air and seeming to skip along on their tails on the surface of the water to escape predators.
Potentially dangerous at night when attracted to light as they leap out of the water and have been known to cause fatalities with their beaks!

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Body shape
needle
Head & Mouth
long nose

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean, Mediterranean
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, near the surface, over sand and reef areas close to shore.

04

Adult photos 3

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderBeloniformes
    5. familyBelonidae
    6. genusTylosurus
    7. speciesTylosurus choram (Rüppell, 1837)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Needlefishes (Belonidae)